"I did a lot of work in the offseason to get stronger than last season and throw harder," Spichiger said. "I wanted to be able to pitch better, basically, and be more effective."

Spichiger reached double-digit strikeouts in eight games this season, including 11 against Westfield in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 semifinals. She also struck out 16 against Blair on April 22, 15 in a 1-0 victory over Watchung Hills, No. 13 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, on April 16, and 12 in a 4-0 victory over Montgomery on May 2.

"What makes Mason such a great player is a couple of things," North Hunterdon coach Jeff Steele said. "She has great ability and is an excellent pitcher with great control and ball movement. No matter the situation she never gets rattled. She always has composure and is a competitor, and when she goes out thtere our team knows we have a chance."

"This season was great, we lost 10 seniors and got to the same exact place that we did last season," Spichiger said. "I knew I would have to be on the top of my game and the defense knew they were going to have to be on the top of their game."

Team of the year: High Point, No. 9 in the Star-Ledger Top 20 final ranking, made a run to the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 final, where it fell to No. 4 Indian Hills, 1-0.

Coach Barbara Fasano's squad, led by 2013 Star-Ledger statewide Player of the Year Ally Frei, finished with a 22-4-1 mark. Frei finished the season with 393 strikeouts and 38 walks while sporting a 0.19 ERA and an average of 2.12 strikeouts per inning.

High Point had a 13-game unbeaten streak that began with an 8-0 victory over Montville on April 10 and was broken when High Point fell to North Hunterdon in the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament semifinal round on May 10 in 11 innings.

The Wantage school won both the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament and Group 3 title in 2012 but was unable to capture either crown in 2013. Look for the team to be a contender for each again in 2014, Frei's senior campaign.

Coach of the year: Frank Canning led Pope John to a 21-10 record and a No. 20 statewide ranking in The Star-Ledger Top 20.

Struck out 91 and walked 39 over 99 innings, allowing 19 earned runs. Batted .528 with 18 RBI, 15 runs, and four doubles. Recorded 13 strikeouts in a victory over Franklin on April 11.

Ally Frei, High Point, 5-10, Junior

Boston-College bound pitcher struck out 393 and walked 38. Recorded a 0.19 ERA and struck out at least 13 batters in 21 games. Named 2013 Star-Ledger statewide Player of the Year.

Abby Jeffries, Warren Hills 5-9, Senior

Batted .388 with 20 RBI, 20 runs, and 12 doubles. Went 4-for-4 in a victory over Voorhees on April 4 with three RBI, three runs, and three doubles. Recorded multiple RBI in six games this season.

Maria Lacatena, Lenape Valley 5-6, Senior

Youngstown State-bound team captain batted .390 with 22 RBI, seven doubles, three triples, and two home runs. Is the all-time home run leader in Lenape Valley history.

Caitlin Lake, Hunterdon Central, 5-7, Senior

Batted .465 (33-for-71) with 18 runs and 16 RBI. Recorrded 10 extra-base hits, including five doubles and four home runs. Had a season-high four hits and four RBI against Blair on May 6.

Christina Marinaro, Pope John, 5-5, Senior

Finished with a .381 batting average (37-for-97) with 26 RBI and 21 runs while recording five doubles. Had 10 walks. Had multiple RBI in eight games this season, including four against Mount Olive on May 15.

Kayla Parker, North Hunterdon, 5-7 Junior

Scored 18 runs and recorded 15 RBI with four home runs and four doubles. Drew 10 walks. Went 3-for-3 with a double in a game against Watchung Hills on May 9.

Kaylee Powers, Pope John, 5-5, Sophomore

Batted .402 (43-for-107) with 31 RBI and 27 runs. Recorded 12 doubles, four home runs, and three doubles. Stole 14 bases and drew nine walks. Had 17 multi-hit games.

Kaela Romano, Lenape Valley, 5-4, Junior

Recorded 106 strikeouts and 11 victories in the circle. Pitched a four-hit shutout in a 1-0 victory over Sparta on May 10. Scattered three hits with no earned runs in a victory over Westwood on May 21.

Toni Santonastasso, Pope John, 5-8, Junior

Finished with a .458 batting average (38-for-83) with 22 RBI and 21 runs. Hit four home runs and recorded nine doubles. Drew seven walks. Recorded three hits against Immaculate Heart in the state tournament.

Carly Satter, High Point, 5-4, Junior

Went 37-for-89 (.416 batting average) with 14 runs and five doubles. Went 4-for-5 with an RBI and run in a game against Morris Knolls on April 25. Had four games of 3+ hits.

Carly Severini, North Hunterdon 5-7, Sophomore

Batted .425 (51-for-120) with 26 runs and 23 RBI. Hit 11 doubles and recorded 15 extra-base hits in all. Went 3-for-4 with four RBI, two runs, and a double against Ridge on May 20.

Madey Smith, Warren Hills, 5-7, Freshman

Freshman struck out 126 and walked 20 while splitting time in the circle, finishing with 83 innings pitched. Had nine games with multiple strikeouts, including 15 against Franklin on April 16.

Mason Spichiger, North Hunterdon 5-7, Junior

2013 Star-Ledger West Jersey Player of the Year struck out 217 and walked 31. Allowed 39 earned runs and 155 hits over 188 1/3 innings pitched. Batted .311 (31-for-103) with 14 RBI and doubles.